WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- The Obama administration is rethinking how to apply economic sanctions to Iran following a crackdown on pro-democracy activists, a diplomatic source says.
Citing an unnamed senior State Department official, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday the White House is trying to adjust planned sanctions for Iran's uranium enrichment program to focus more tightly on the Tehran regime's leaders and avoid hurting ordinary Iranians.
The source said the administration is concerned overly broad sanctions could appear too harsh if ordinary citizens who oppose the regime -- with whom the West has common cause -- are also affected. So discussions are reportedly ongoing in Washington on how to make the sanctions "as narrow as they can be."
The Times quoted the source as saying the new approach would likely preclude an international ban on gasoline sales to Iran, a move that has strong support among hawks in the U.S. Congress.
"That would be so broad-brush, it would be tough to do," the official said.
Some analysts have reportedly warned Iran's crackdown on protesters will complicate efforts to negotiate a deal over its nuclear program. The Times' source, in fact, said a nuclear deal was now "off the table."
